Masbedo
Creating art as a couple? It’s continuous enrichment
«Our work organization is based on a synergy that brings together visions that are often different but always complementary»
Fragility of art, fleetingness of beauty, necessity of preserving memory through artistic heritage. But also incomprehensibility, ancestral force of nature, history. The themes that Masbedo have explored over their nearly thirty-year career are truly numerous. A constant investigation that Jacopo Bedogni (born in 1970) and Nicolò Masazza, three years younger, conduct using various media: video, installation, performance, avant-garde theater, sound design, and cinema.
For their latest work, the artistic duo—currently living between Milan and Piacenza—has turned to the Seventh Art. This is the film “Arsa”, presented in international preview on the occasion of the 19th edition of the Festa del Cinema di Roma, which will be in theaters in spring 2025 produced by Fandango. The plot? It is the story of a mysterious girl (actress Gala Zohar Martinucci), both fragile and strong at the same time, who lives on the island of Stromboli, where she confronts the experiences of grief and solitude immersed in the wild nature.
What inspired you to create such an enigmatic and wild film like “Arsa”?
«Arsa was driven by a profound fascination with the power of nature and its interactions with the human soul. The idea of exploring the protagonist Arsa’s relationship with such a powerful and primal environment emerged from the intent to represent not only the physical landscape but also the character’s inner journey. Nature, in its raw and unspoiled form, acts as a mirror for the girl’s emotions and conflicts, creating an atmosphere where imagination and solitude intertwine. This aspect allowed us to explore universal themes such as identity, isolation, and the search for meaning. Additionally, the choice of an island like Stromboli, with its breathtaking beauty and potential threat, added further layers of complexity, making the film a visual and sensory journey that invites viewers to reflect on their own relationship with nature and their solitude»
You chose to work in a duo, yet incomprehensibility is one of the essential themes of your work. Isn’t that a bit of a contradiction?
«The theme of incomprehensibility is something we’ve addressed a lot at the beginning of our journey. It seems paradoxical, but in reality, working in a duo can actually highlight it even more. Collaboration involves constant interaction, which makes it evident how difficult—and sometimes frustrating—it can be to truly communicate, even with those you work closely with. However, this discussion also reflects our interest in how contemporary society, despite being heavily focused on communication, often faces significant challenges in attempting to communicate effectively. There is a contradiction in being in constant connection yet often failing to achieve emotional communication. Our series of works under the title ‘Trilogy of Incomprehensibility’ delves precisely into these themes»
What is the biggest challenge of working in a duo?
«Certainly, managing individual differences. We often have slightly different ideas that make the creative process more complex, but ‘complexity’ doesn’t scare us»
And what is the greatest potential?
«Working in a duo is a continuous enrichment; due to our different backgrounds and inclinations, we are able to find a good synthesis. Another advantage is having someone to share the journey of artistic research, which is usually quite solitary»
From concept development to realization: how do you organize your work?
«Our work organization is based on a synergy that combines different yet complementary visions. There is always an important phase of study and research, which helps to structure our intuitions. From an organizational standpoint, personally (Nicolò Masazza), I have a more directorial perspective, capable of embracing the overall concept of the project, from its origins to its realization. On the other hand, I (Iacopo Bedogni) stand out for my attention to detail, which reflects a more photographic eye. This ability to focus on every single visual element enriches our work. This contrast in our perspectives allows us to harmonize the big picture with the details, creating a complete visual and narrative experience»
In hell, what song do they always play?
«In hell, they play the nonsense of some rappers or trap artists; their ‘lyrics’ and you’re condemned to listen to them at 50 and 60 years old…»
What work moves you the most?
«”Dancer in the Dark” by Lars Von Trier»
What project are you currently working on?
«Right now, we are focusing on the promotion of “Arsa”, developing a new video, and writing a new film»
Interview: Germano D’Acquisto
Portraits: Ludovica Arcero
